Ratree said she was threatened not to criticize Democrat-led government

Thai Patriots Network activist Ratree Pipattanapaiboon said in a Senate committee meeting that she has been theatened not to criticize the government led by Abhisit Vejjajiva. Ms Ratree was being inquired by the Senate Committee on Human Rights, Freedom and Consumer Protection, about the conditions in the Cambodian prison where she had been detained for over two years on a convicted charge of espionage. She said that the Democrat-led government did not offer her proper political assistance, and failed to do enough to counter Cambodian authorities’ claims that she was a spy. But she added that she was intimidated by the party not to criticize them publicly. Ms Ratree complained that she was a victim of a political game, citing her belief that her early release was politically motivated. She admitted, however, that she did not know of specific political negotiations that might have led to her early release, and that it could have been a result of improved relations between Cambodia and Thailand. Ms Ratree was arrested together with her Thai Patriots Network colleague Veera Somkwankid and Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth when they entered Cambodian territories in December 2010. Mr Panich was freed in January 2011. Mr Ratree was sentenced to six years in prison but was released early on the occasion of former king Norodom Sihanouk’s cremation. Mr Veera is still in jail in Cambodia.